Papers by dr tolgou yempabe
Journal of Surgery and trauma, 2019
Introduction: Amputation operations are rare in children and are often performed in emergencies a... more Introduction: Amputation operations are rare in children and are often performed in emergencies as lifesaving procedures or in elective cases resulting from congenital limb deficiencies. This study aimed to retrospectively examine the pattern of trauma-related amputations among children in Ghana. Methods: Hospital records of the children aged 16 years and younger who underwent trauma-related amputations during May 2015-September 2018 were assessed retrospectively. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 24 (IBM, Chicago, USA). Descriptive statistics were used to report the means and frequencies. Results: A total of 34 children had amputation surgeries during the study period. Our findings showed that 5.9% (n=2) of the subjects were female and 94.1% (n=32) were male. Falls as the leading cause accounted for 50% (n=17) of the injuries, followed by personal or interpersonal violence 23.5% (n=8), road traffic accidents 14.7% (n=5), machinery 5.9% (n=2), and birth injuries mainly related to the accidents during child delivery 5.9% (n=2). At the onset of injury, 61.8% (n=21) of the children were taken to hospitals as the first point of call, while 38.2% of the cases (n=13) first referred to bonesetters. According to the records, upper limb amputation 70.6% (n=24) was more frequent than lower limb 29.4% (n=10). Conclusions: A record of thirty-four trauma-related amputations among children over a period of 3.5 years in a single treatment center is remarkable. The living environment of children could predispose them to catastrophic incidents leading to amputations. Therefore, strategies for injury prevention should be developed taking into consideration the contextual factors.
Training Traditional Bonesetters in Basic Principles of Fracture Treatment
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
Background: Our study assessed the effectiveness of a traditional bonesetter (TBS) educational pr... more Background: Our study assessed the effectiveness of a traditional bonesetter (TBS) educational program that was designed to increase knowledge, reduce complications, and promote the referral of patients to local hospitals by TBSs when necessary. Methods: From April to December 2021, TBSs from the Northern Sector (the Northern, Savannah, and North East regions) and the Ashanti region of Ghana underwent a 4-day training course that had been designed to teach basic principles of fracture care with the use of local tools. We assessed the levels of knowledge of the TBSs both before and after training. The change in practice of the trained TBSs also was assessed at 6 months using a structured questionnaire and a checklist. Results: In total, 157 TBSs were trained in 5 training sessions over a 9-month period. There was an improvement in knowledge in all of the modules of training, with an overall knowledge gain of 19.7% (from 67.2% to 86.9%). At 6 months of follow-up, the practices of TBSs...
Summary of FGD participants
<p>Summary of FGD participants.</p
Colaizzi’s stages in descriptive phenomenological analysis and how it was applied in this study
<p>Colaizzi’s stages in descriptive phenomenological analysis and how it was applied in thi... more <p>Colaizzi’s stages in descriptive phenomenological analysis and how it was applied in this study.</p
Background: Objective of this prospective study is to report results of treatment of open tibia f... more Background: Objective of this prospective study is to report results of treatment of open tibia fractures in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital Accra Ghana. Patients and Methods: In this prospective study 47 patients were considered over a 6-month period from February 2012 to July 2012, and each patient was however followed up for at least 3 months. Treatment of these fractures was guided by the unit protocol. Results: Out of the 47 patients, 35 (74%) had a good
Newborn jaundice is a common presentation in the first week of life. In its severe form it can le... more Newborn jaundice is a common presentation in the first week of life. In its severe form it can lead to both mortality and long-term disability. Knowledge and awareness on this condition has been shown to vary according to the setting. In this cross-sectional study, we interviewed mothers of babies admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with jaundice in order to document their knowledge and awareness. We also documented comorbidities in the neonates that could predispose them to severe jaundice. Of the 786 babies admitted over the period, 76 (9.7%) had jaundice. Majority (n=44, 57.9%) were male, of normal birth weight (n=63, 90%) and delivered in a health care facility (n=61, 80.2%). The maternal awareness on jaundice (n=13, 17.1%) and ability to detect the condition (n =9, 11.8%) were low. Neonatal sepsis was the most common risk factor (n=52, 68.4%), followed by ABO blood group incompatibility (n=11, 14.5%) and G6PD defect (n=8, 10.5%). More than 70% (n=54) of babies h...
Factors associated with the utilization of the services of traditional Bonesetters in Northern Region of Ghana
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, 2020
Rising Trend of “Veil Entanglement Injuries” in Northern Ghana: A Case Series
Journal of Orthopaedic Case Reports, 2021
Introduction Veils are thin garments that are worn over the head, wrapped round the neck, and lef... more Introduction Veils are thin garments that are worn over the head, wrapped round the neck, and left hanging loosely over the torso up to the thighs. They are also known as scarf or “dupatta.” Veils can get entangled in spokes of motorbikes or in belt-driven machinery resulting in a variety of life-threating injuries. Case Reports We report nine major cases of veil entanglement injuries (VEI) that presented to the Orthopedic Unit of Tamale Teaching Hospital from July 10, 2017 to June 12, 2020. All the patients were females with ages ranging from 5-months to 44-year. All the accidents involved either a motorbike or auto rickshaw. Head, neck, and extremity injuries were the most common. Eight out of nine patients had circumferential neck bruise referred to as “veil sign” in this report. One patient died. Conclusion The rising trend of VEI is alarming among women in Northern Ghana. We recommend widespread public education and awareness creation. We also recommend modification of traffic ...
Traditional bonesetters in northern Ghana: opportunities for engagement with the formal health sector
Pan African Medical Journal
Introduction we sought to explore the knowledge and practices among traditional bonesetters (TBSs... more Introduction we sought to explore the knowledge and practices among traditional bonesetters (TBSs) in the Northern Region of Ghana and to assess opportunities for their engagement with the formal health sector. Methods we identified 28 TBSs widely distributed in the Northern Region. They were interviewed using qualitative and quantitative methods, regarding their background, training, current practices, opinions regarding orthodox care, and interests in future linkages with the formal health sector. Results most TBSs (67.9%) had no formal education and most (85.7%) learned their skills from older family members. Their treatments included reasonable versions of closed reduction and immobilization, but also use of locally-derived concoctions and spiritual aspects, such as incantations. Only 21.4% regularly referred complications to hospital. Nonetheless, all endorsed advantages to orthodox care, such as X-rays (100%), record keeping (100%), and pain management (85.7%). Almost all (96.4%) expressed an interest in training courses or other engagement with the formal health sector. Topics in which they were interested for training included record keeping (100%), pain management (85.7%), and management of open fractures and complications (82.1%). Conclusion factors making linkage between TBSs and the formal health sector difficult included low levels of formal education, training through secretive in-family methods, and spiritual and mystical aspects of their practice that might make communications about modern medicine difficult. Nonetheless, most indicated interest in linking with modern care, especially through training courses. Topics they suggested for such courses provide a foundation to build on in future efforts to engage TBSs with the formal health sector.
PLOS ONE
Background One of the non-communicable diseases which is on the rise is type 2 diabetes (T2D). T2... more Background One of the non-communicable diseases which is on the rise is type 2 diabetes (T2D). T2D is largely preventable with healthy lifestyle. We therefore conducted this study to explore premorbid perception of risk, behavioural practices and the coping strategies of patients with T2D. Methods Using descriptive phenomenology approach to qualitative enquiry, we conducted eight focus group discussions (N = 73) with diabetic patients; four among males (N = 36) and four among females (N = 37). In addition, we conducted in-depth interviews with 15 patients, seven caretakers and three physicians. We adopted Colaizzi's descriptive phenomenology approach to analyse the data with the aid of NVivo 11. Results We found that respondents believed diabetes was a condition for the aged and rich and this served as a premorbid risk attenuator. Majority of them engaged in diabetes-related high risk behaviours such as lack of exercise, sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating despite their foreknowledge about the role of lifestyle in diabetes pathogenesis. We also found that patients used moringa, noni, prekese, and garlic concurrently with orthodox medications. Adherence to dietary changes and exercises was a challenge with females reporting better adherence than males. The study also revealed that patients believed biomedical health facilities paid little attention to psychosocial aspects of care despite its essential role in coping with the condition.
Background: Objective of this prospective study is to report results of treatment of open tibia f... more Background: Objective of this prospective study is to report results of treatment of open tibia fractures in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital Accra Ghana.
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Papers by dr tolgou yempabe